Baby playpen



United. States This invention relates to infants playpens, and moreparticularly to an improved playpen having collapsible walls which maybe readily folded to a compact position for transportation and storageand which may be readily set up for use when desired.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedcollapsible baby playpen which is simple in construction, which is easyto set up for -use, and which may be readily collapsed to a compactcondition for transportation and storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsiblebaby playpen having flexible side Walls, having no dangerous corners,being easy to fold up, requiring less space than a conventional squareplaypen, having a rigid floor, and being attractive in appearance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved babyplaypen which has relatively open side walls through which a child cansee more easily than in a conventional playpen, being arranged so thatthe playpen pad need not be removed when the playpen is folded, andbeing further arranged that toys tied to the side walls of the playpencan remain there in the folded position of the playpen, providing alarge number of handholds for a child learning to stand and walk in theplaypen, being durable in construction, and being readily adaptable touse with modern furniture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the folloing description and claim, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved foldable child's playpenconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the foldable playpen of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line3-3 of Figure 1. o

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure l.

Referring to the drawings, the -improved playpen is designated generallyat 11 and, as illustrated, is circular in shape, the playpen comprisinga rigid floor 12 of plywood or similar rigid material which isreinforced by a plurality of square brace bars 13 fastened to its bottomsurface in any suitable manner to definc the configuration shown indotted view in Figure 1 wherein the brace bars 13 are arranged mutuallyperpendicular to each other.

Hinged to the margin of the circular floor 12 adjacent the ends of therespective brace bars 13 are respective rigid post members 14, the postmembers 14 being connected to the marginal portion of the top surface ofthe circular floor 12 by hinges 15, as shown in Figure 3. Secured to thelower inside portions of the post members 14 are respective supportblocks 16 arranged to underlie the marginal portions of the floor whenthe post members are in their Vertical upstanding positions, as isclearly illustrated in Figure 3 and defining supporting feet beneathsaid marginal portions.

*atent O 2,809,382 Patented Oct. 15, 1957 Designated at 17 is a rigidcircular ring member substantially equal in diameter to the floor 12,said ring member being connected to the margin of the circular floor 12by fiexible netting 18 which may be interwoven between the ring member17 and the floor 12 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. Thus, thenetting 18, which may comprise rope or similar fiexible material isformed ith loop portions 19 engaged over the ring 17 and withalternating bottom loop portions 20 engaged through spaced openingsformed in the margin of the floor 12 and extending around said margin.The Vertical portions of the flexible members between the loops 19 and20 may be secured to horizontal circular loops or bands 21 of rope orsimilar fiexible material, the securement being made in any desiredmanner, as by knots or other fastening means, whereby a netting isdefined extending continuously around the playpen and fastened theretoso that said netting may be readily collapsed when the playpen is foldedand may be drawn to a taut condition when the playpen is set up for use.

The post members 14 are formed at their top ends with grooves 28arranged to lockingly receive the ring 17 when the playpen is set up foruse and to lock said ring in position above and parallel to the floor12.

It will be understood that the ring 17 is held in the grooves 28 by thetension of the fiexible netting 18, such tension being substantial andbeing sufificient so that only an adult or relatively strong person canovercome the tension to disengage the ring from the groove, whereby asmall child or infant cannot accidentally disengage said ring from thepost members 14.

As shown, the post members 14 are foldable inwardly to horizontalpositions overlying the floor 12, the ring 17 being thus engageable onthe folded post members. Pivoted to said post members at 25 arerespective locking arms 26, said locking arms being formed at their freeouter ends with grooves 27 which may be engaged with the ring 17 to holdthe ring down on the horizontal post members 14 when the device is to betransported in its collapsed position.

As shown in Figure 4, each of 'the brace bars 13 may be provided with along, relatively shallow notch 30 facing the bottom surface of the floor12, defining a handhold, enabling the folded playpen to be readilygrasped by a person desiring to carry same.

As will be readily apparent, the post members 14 may be folded inwardlyto overlie a playpen pad disposed on the floor 12, if the pad is ofmoderate thickness, whereby it is not necessary to remove the pad whenthe playpen is to be collapsed for transportation or storage.

It will be further apparent that because of the circular shape, theplaypen may be set up in a relatively small space, requiring less spacethan a conventional square playpen, and will conform in appearance withmodern furniture, as now Widely employed in homes, whereby the playpenwill blend in With the appearance of a wide range of furniture schemes.

While a specific embodiment of an improved collapsible child,s playpenhas been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understoodthat various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occurto those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that nolimitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope ofthe appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a collapsible child's playpen, `a generally circular rigid floor, acircular ring member substantially equal in diameter to said floor, aplurality of spaced rigid post members hinged to the peripheral portionof said fioor and being swingable to erect positions, means on said postmembers projecting beyond the hinge connections thereof and definingsupporting legs below the floor when said post members are inerectpositions, the top ends of said post memberebeing formedwith..greove.lczckinglyY in-VM terengageable with said ring member, anda fiexble netting connected between said ring member and the peripheralpprtion of saidw flor; ajnd`;be'ing arranged :tadefinea reltiyely ;tangcircular` wallaround g said; fl0 0 r when the. ring menrberfis,interengggi With; sadgrooyes, saidepcst. members being:formedrandzarranged ;to beatrimes swing` ablefio'ppsitiprrsSubtentially verlyirngsrthe. prallelrm the fiOOr, VSaid ring memberbeing al 4suh times. V`engegfeable on. thelpost members, and nothedfasterling membersv pivotally ;seeured On thept members and beingrotatfible in'fe. .lqckng .engelgernentewith'theL rirnmemberr,secure.,-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS'Shearer Ian. 31, 1899 Stotler Apr. 12, 1921 Lawrence Apr. 19, 1921Stotler Apr. 18, 1922 Nigg Apr. 26, 1932 Scrantorn Nov. 5, 1935 FischerFeb. 21, 1950 Bqisseher Aug, 14, 1951 Hawley Marzf 25, 1952 151012111;V--r-.k-r=-f.-=-- Se1;',;'= 29, T 1953

